'There is no evidence' that one of the biggest arguments against a Brexit is true

One of the biggest arguments against Britain leaving the European
Union — a Brexit — is that investors and companies will
withhold investment in the UK and hurt the economy.

Pro-unionists and
independent analysts said that this is already happening due
to the uncertainty over whether a Brexit will happen or not when
Britons vote in the EU referendum on June 23. In other words,
people don't want to invest in UK entities in case Britain leaves
the EU and severs EU single market ties.

However, the former chief of the British Chambers of Commerce —
which represents thousands of businesses across Britain which are
responsible for 5 million employees collectively—
and head of Vote Leave's business
council,John Longworth, told
BBC's "Wake Up To Money" radio
programme on Wednesday that there's no evidence that firms
are delaying investment ahead of the referendum.

"There is no evidence that business decisions are being held up
at the moment," said Longworth.

"Uncertainty is a feature of British life. No businesses prefer
uncertainty but we live in a very uncertain world. Other things
the IMF report said of course, is that the global economy is an
uncertain place and global debts are two and a half times global
GDP."

He added that he was "not at all concerned," when
asked whether he is worried about the International Monetary
Fund's warning that a Brexit is a "real possibility" and
could cause "severe
regional and global damage."

On Tuesday, Osborne welcomed the IMF's warning on Brexit, saying
in a statement:

While Britain remains one of the fastest growing advanced
economies in the world, the IMF’s warnings about our exit from
the EU are stark. For the first time, we’re seeing the direct
impact on our economy of the risks of leaving the EU.

The IMF says that these risks are a reason why they have reduced
Britain’s growth forecast this year.

If Britain leaves the EU, the IMF says there would be a
short-term impact on stability and long-term costs to the
economy.

However Longworth say that he doesn't believe what the IMF or
Osborne has to say.

"The IMF has been wrong consistently on economic forecasting over
the years, in fact they were wrong about forecasting the
downturn," said Longworth.

"And it's very interesting they produced this report at the
moment because the IMF are part of that political establishment
in Europe which has a vested interest in us remaining in the
European Union. I wouldn't be surprised if the Chancellor of the
Exchequer (George Osborne) told them to bring forward this
report, which wasn't due until after the referendum."